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V838 Mon Before and During Outburst

V838 Mon Before and During Outburst

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    07h 04m 05s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    –03° 50' 50"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Monoceros
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    The star is ~20,000 light-years (~6 kiloparsecs) away.
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    V838 Monocerotis, V838 Mon
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Nova-like object, Light Echo
  • Release Date
    March 26, 2003
  • Science Release
    Hubble Watches Light from Mysterious Erupting Star Reverberate Through Space
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, Anglo-Australian Observatory, U.S. Naval Observatory and Z. Levay (STScI)

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Related Images & Videos

Light Echo from Star V838 Monocerotis

Light Echo from Star V838 Monocerotis

This sequence of pictures from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys dramatically demonstrates the reverberation of light through space caused by an unusual stellar outburst in January 2002. A burst of light from the bizarre star is spreading into space...

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - May 20, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - May 20, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - September 2, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - September 2, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - October 28, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - October 28, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - December 17, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - December 17, 2002

Anatomy of a Light Echo

Anatomy of a Light Echo

Location of V838 Mon in the Milky Way Galaxy

Location of V838 Mon in the Milky Way Galaxy

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - April 30, 2002

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - April 30, 2002

Size of Star Relative to the Solar System

Size of Star Relative to the Solar System

Size of Star Relative to the Solar System

V838 Mon: Dissolve Between Images at the Four Epochs

Dissolve sequence of the four epochs (May-Dec. 2002) of the light echo of star V838 Mon. This star was the brightest star in the galaxy for a short time.

Size of Star Relative to the Solar System

The Outburst: V838 Mon

This animation shows the sudden brightening of the star V838 Mon as it happened on Jan 2002. The star got much brighter because it expanded to a red super giant. In the foreground is a blue companion star.

Size of Star Relative to the Solar System

Light Echo Geometry Cartoon

Size of Star Relative to the Solar System

V838 Mon: Flip Through Epochs

Dr. Howard Bond – First Discovered

Dr. Howard Bond – First Discovered

Dr. Howard Bond – Significance

Dr. Howard Bond – Significance

Dr. Howard Bond – Observations

Dr. Howard Bond – Observations

Dr. Howard Bond – What is a Light Echo?

Dr. Howard Bond – What is a Light Echo?

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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